Durable Weather Garment

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a garment comprising a hooded-coat and overalls designed for improved durability and comfort. The garment is waterproof throughout. The coat has an outer layer of Kevlar fabric in the abdominal region, the outer edges of the sleeves, and along the hem. The overalls have an outer layer of Kevlar fabric on the front of the legs and on the seat. The hood and coat sections each have light reflective stripes for greater visibility and safety. There are also built in knee pads, pockets, and openings for comfort, storage, and ventilation. The garment is particularly well suited for outdoor workers exposed to weather extremes and hard, abrasive contact with the environment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in ahooded-coat and overalls combination for protection from the elements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are a wide variety of garments designed to insulate wearers fromadverse weather conditions. However, different uses of weather garmentsdemand different designs and materials. Construction wear requiresextraordinary attention to durability. Abrasive contact, such asprolonged kneeling on rough surfaces, or the lifting of heavy objectsusing body leverage, can easily tear normal garments, or precipitate arapid deterioration of their integrity. Not only must constructiongarments hold up to high shear forces, they also must permitflexibility. Weather garments that insulate without permitting theworker the mobility to perform his job have no value. There is a needfor weather gear for outdoor workers that not only holds up to heavy andrough environmental contact, but which provides ease of movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a garment comprising a hooded-coat and overalls, allmade of waterproof and abrasion resistant material throughout, with theaddition of Kevlar fabric and padding to zones subject to the greatestcontact with external objects.

Specifically, Kevlar panels are positioned on the coat along the upperback and shoulders, along the outer aspect of the sleeves, around thefront of the abdomen from sternum to waist, and around the hem. On theoveralls, Kevlar fabric tines the front of each leg, from the waist tohem, and the seat.

Other features include padded knees, sealable underarm openings forventilation, and light reflective strip-panels for high visibility atnight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a front view of the hood and coat.

FIG. 1B is a front view of the overalls.

FIG. 2A is a rear view of the hood and coat.

FIG. 2B is a rear view of the overalls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to theFigures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate thatthe detailed description given herein with respect to these figures isfor explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limitedembodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled inthe art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention,recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, dependingupon the needs of the particular application, to implement thefunctionality of any given detail beyond the particular implementationchoices shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variationsof the invention that are too numerous to be listed, but that ail fitwithin the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be readas plural, and vice versa, and masculine as feminine, and vice versa,where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily implythat the two are mutually exclusive.

It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limitedto the methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques,uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary. It is alsoto be understood that the terminology used herein is used for thepurpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended tolimit the scope of the present invention. As used herein and in theappended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include theplural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus,for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or moreelements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in theart. Similarly, for another example, a reference to “a step” or “ameans” is a reference to one or more steps or means and may includesub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to beunderstood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or”should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” ratherthan that of a logical “exclusive or,” unless the context clearlynecessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understoodalso to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Languagethat may be construed to express approximation should be so understoodunless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skillin the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods,techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods,techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to thosedescribed herein may be used in the practice or testing of the presentinvention. Structures described herein are to be understood also torefer to functional equivalents of such structures.

Although Claims have been formulated in this Application to particularcombinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of thedisclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature, orany novel combination of features, whether or not it relates to the sameinvention as presently claimed in any Claim, and whether or not itmitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the presentinvention.

Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments mayalso be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely,various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of asingle embodiment may also be provided separately or in any suitablesub-combination. The Applicants hereby give notice that new Claims maybe formulated to such features, or combinations of such features, duringthe prosecution of the present Application, or of any furtherApplication derived therefrom.

References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,”“various embodiments,” etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of theinvention so described may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes theparticular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated useof the phrase “in one embodiment,” or “in an exemplary embodiment,” donot necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, many carefulconsiderations and compromises typically must be made when designing forthe optimal manufacture of a commercial implementation any system, andin particular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercialimplementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of thepresent invention may be configured according to the needs of theparticular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s),result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachingsrelated to any described embodiment of the present invention may besuitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, improved oroptimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills andknown techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addressesthe needs of the particular application.

The invention is best understood by reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1A shows a front view of the hooded coat portion of the garment100A. The hooded coat comprises a coat 101 and a hood 102, both having alayer of water proof material throughout. The coat has an upper Kevlarfabric panel 110 a, an abdominal Kevlar fabric panel 111 an outer sleeveKevlar fabric panel 112, a cuff Kevlar fabric panel 113, and a hemKevlar fabric panel 114. A chest reflective panel 120 extendshorizontally across the chest, and the ends of a waist reflective panel121 are visible around each hip. A protective neck panel 140 extendsupward from the neckline of the coat 101. Bisecting the coat 101 at themidline is the main zipper 150. There are zippered underarm openings 160for ventilation. A zippered side pocket 170 is positioned at each of theright and left edges of the abdominal Kevlar fabric panel 111. There isalso at least one zippered sleeve pocket 180. A main zipper flap 190adds protection to the main zipper 150 in the chest area. The hood 102comprises a brim 130 and a light reflective panel 122 runninglongitudinally from the forehead to the rearward along the midline. Astretchable cord 195 with toggled handles 196 around the face opening197 secures the hood.

FIG. 1B is a front view of the bottom portion of the garment 200A. Thebottom portion comprise overalls 201. The overalls 201 comprise a frontKevlar fabric panel 210 extending along the front of the overalls fromthe waist to each leg cuff 260. Each leg cuff 260 also has a protectiveKevlar fabric cover 211 a. There is a knee pad 220 on each knee area forextra protection and comfort when kneeling. A suspender strap assembly230 with a set of quick release clips 235 attach to the front bib panel240 a. There is a bib gusset 241 on one side of the front bib panel 240a. The crotch has a welded seam 250 for durability.

FIG. 2A is a rear view of the hooded coat 100B. On its back, the coat101 has an upper back and shoulder Kevlar fabric panel 110 b. The outersleeve Kevlar fabric panel 112 runs longitudinally along the outeraspect of each sleeve from shoulder to wrist, leading to a tabbedadjustable cuff 115 with a tab fastening means 116, such as Velcro. Thecuff is also protected by a Kevlar fabric panel 113. There is a hemKevlar fabric panel 114 extending from the hem of the coat to about thehip. There is a hood reflective panel 122, bisecting the hood 102 fromback to front. An upper back reflective panel 123 runs horizontallyacross the upper back, and a waist reflective panel 124 runshorizontally across the back, this waist reflective panel 124 being acontinuation of the terminal waist reflective panels 121 in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 28 is a rear view of the lower portion of the garment 2008. A seatKevlar fabric panel 215 lines the seat area of the overalls 201. Asuspender strap assembly 230 attaches to the rear bib panel 240 b.Visible also are a set of quick release clips 235 for fastening thesuspender strap assembly 230. The rear side of the side gusset 241 isvisible along a side of the rear bib panel 240 b. Each leg ending has aleg cuff 260, and each leg cuff 260 is covered with protective Kevlarfabric 211 b.

I claim:
 1. A durable weather garment, comprising a hooded coat andoveralls, each made of waterproof material and having an outer layer ofKevlar fabric.
 2. A durable weather garment, comprising a hooded coatand overalls, each made of a waterproof material, further comprising a.a coat portion of the hooded coat, comprising 1) a front, a back, achest area, a right and left shoulder area, an abdominal area having aright and left edge, a neckline, a right and left sleeve each with aninner facing and outer facing surface, a right and left cuff at the endof each right and left sleeve, a right and left underarm area, a rightand left hip area, an upper back area, a lower back area, a waist area,a neckline, and a hem; said coat further comprising 2) a plurality ofKevlar fabric panels, comprising an upper Kevlar fabric panel, saidupper Kevlar fabric panel being an outer layer of Kevlar fabric coveringthe chest area, the upper back area, and the right and left shoulderarea, an abdominal Kevlar fabric panel, said abdominal Kevlar fabricpanel being an outer layer of Kevlar fabric covering the abdominal area,an outer sleeve Kevlar fabric panel, said outer sleeve Kevlar fabricpanel being an outer layer of Kevlar fabric covering the outer facingsurface of each right and left sleeve, a hem Kevlar fabric panel, saidhem Kevlar fabric panel extending from the waist area to the hem, 3) aplurality of light reflective panels, said light reflective panelscomprising material that reflects light, and further comprising a chestreflective panel, said chest reflective panel being a reflective stripewhich circumvents the coat across the chest area and the upper backarea, a waist reflective panel, said waist reflective panel being areflective stripe with two ends which circumvents the waist area,terminating on one end at the right hip area and on the other end at theleft hip area, 4) a neck panel, comprising a fabric panel extendingupward from the neckline, 5) a main zipper, comprising a zipperbisecting the front longitudinally, said main zipper being covered by azipper flap in the chest area, 6) a side pocket set, comprising a pairof pockets, each pocket positioned equidistantly from the main zipper atthe right and left edge of the abdominal area, b. a hood portion of thehooded coat, said hood portion comprising a face opening with a faceopening edge, a woven channel along the face opening edge, a foreheadhem, and a front and back neckline hem, 1) wherein the hood portionattaches along the back neckline to the neckline of the coat portion, 2)wherein the cord traverses the woven channel, for securing the hood, and3) wherein the hood portion further comprises a hood reflective panel,said hood reflective panel being a light reflective stripe bisecting thehood portion from the forehead hem to the back neckline hem, c. anoveralls, said overalls comprising a front, a back, a front and back bibpanel, a seat area, a right and left leg, a right and left leg hem, aright and left knee area, a waist area, and a crotch area, and furthercomprising 1) a front Kevlar fabric panel, said front Kevlar fabricpanel covering the front from the waist area to the right and left leghem, 2) a back Kevlar fabric panel, said back Kevlar fabric panelcovering the seat area, 3) a knee pad set, wherein said knee pad setcomprises a pair of knee pads, one being attached to the right knee areaand one being attached to the left knee area, and 4) a suspender strapassembly, said suspender strap assembly being attached to the back bibpanel, and having an attachment means for fastening to the front bibpanel.
 3. The claim as in 2, wherein the coat portion further comprisesa right and left cuff, each said cuff attaching at the end of eachcorresponding right and left sleeve, and wherein each right and leftcuff is comprised of Kevlar fabric.
 4. The claim as in 2, wherein theoveralls further comprise a right and left cuff, each said cuffattaching at each corresponding right and left leg hem, and wherein eachright and left cuff is comprised of Kevlar fabric.
 5. The claim as in 2,wherein the coat portion comprises a pocket set, said pocket setcomprising a right and left side pocket, a chest pocket, and a sleevepocket, wherein said right and left side pocket are on the front of thecoat portion at the corresponding right and left edges of the abdominalarea, wherein said chest pocket is in the chest area, and wherein saidsleeve pocket is on the left sleeve.
 6. The claim as in 5, wherein eachpocket of the pocket set has a zipper for opening and closing.
 7. Theclaim as in 2, wherein the hooded portion comprises a brim, said brimbeing attached at the forehead hem.
 8. The claim as in 2, wherein theoveralls comprises at least one bib gusset.
 9. The claim as in 2,wherein the crotch area comprises a welded seam.
 10. The claim as in 2,wherein the suspender strap assembly comprises a set quick release clipsas a fastening means.
 11. The claim as in 2, wherein the main zipper ofthe coat portion is a reverse coil zipper.
 12. The claim as in 2,wherein the cord which traverses the woven channel in the hood portionhas a set of toggles, one toggle on each end of the cord.
 13. The claimas in 2, wherein the coat portion comprises a pair of underarm openings,one in the right underarm area and one in the left underarm area. 14.The claim as in 13, wherein each of right and left underarm openingcomprises a zipper for closing and opening.
 15. The claim as in 2,wherein the right and left cuff of the coat portion comprises a pulltab, and a pull tab fastening means, for cuff adjustment.